Effingham Commissioners vote to lower water rates

Dozens packed into the
administrative building in Springfield on Tuesday night to see if they would
get some relief from their high water bills.

The Effingham County Commission
re-voted Tuesday on water and sewer rates that had recently increased. Many
people at the meeting had bills that went way up, and in some cases even
doubled.

"It went from $140
to $340 to $350," said Crys Daniels of Effingham.

"My water bill was
higher than my electric bill. My electric bill was just around $100 and we use
electricity all day," said Shantell Johnson.

The County Commission voted to
approve an increase back in May that raised the water base rate to $20 and the
sewer base rate to $30. Usage rates also went up.

But tonight, county commissioners
agreed to go back to the original water base rate of $10 and sewer at $15.

"I said, I must
have water running down the walls of my house to get a bill for $200 for one
month," said Johnson.

The usage fees will go up by 16
cents per thousand gallons used. The sewer usage rates were not affected. That
increase will cover the price increase from the city of Savannah. Effingham
gets its water from Savannah.

In addition, people will be credited
for the high bills they have paid in the months of June and July.

"We did not mean to
charge this amount, so we cannot let those bills stand," explained District
Two Commissioner Vera Jones.

"It is a forgive
and forget for me. However, as one of the commissioners reminded me, they will
be voting on it in the future and it will go up," said Mary Beth
Kronenberger.

A group of more than 50 pastors in Savannah hopes the families of murder victims can help them create positive change in the city’s violent crime. The Savannah Alliance of Pastors is holding that meeting and a prayer vigil next week.

A group of more than 50 pastors in Savannah hopes the families of murder victims can help them create positive change in the city’s violent crime. The Savannah Alliance of Pastors is holding that meeting and a prayer vigil next week.